Firstly, I'm in that situation for the next two years due to a spider bite on the leg in Botswana that filled one leg up with Golden Staph and also due to a major illness last year (pneumonia + H1N1 which lead to respiritory and cardiac failures) which I can tell you is NOT a bundle of fun.

I did have (and still have) income loss insurance that covers me not only for temporary disability but also permanent disability as well as disability overheads (keeping my PA/AP employed, paying general bills for the business etc). It's the best insurance I ever paid out for and all of the years of paying for it each month have really paid themselves back in the past 20 months.

Though I can't wield a camera at present my main international clients and local clients are a very understanding bunch and for the local clients at least my PAAP (what else can I call her) has been doing the work under strict guidance. So far she's done very well too.

In the meantime I'm taking what could best be called "long service leave" haha. Should be back fully at work in 2012 at the latest according to the doctors.

If you're working professionally (self employed) then you should consider such insurnace as well as public liability insurance which is an other MUST have insurance. I currently carry PLI to the value of $40 million USD.

Senior Member

In Australia, Public Liability insurance is really essential for running your own business. I think the minimum you need to buy will be 10 millions. That's is the amount I was insured for when I was running the business.

In Singapore, on the other hand, the PL is not so much an issue as compared to Australia, so generally not required but good to have.

Back to the point above, generally, best to make sure that the photographer don't take too much risk in terms of getting work done and make sure you save your back when you are doing your things.

If you are late for appointment, don't speed as you will be late anyway... there are a lot of preventive measure one can do to make sure that he/she can still click that shutter.

Of course, Ian's case is of course lots of bad luck which might not be able to avoid... of course, insurance is good to have.

Senior Member

Thanks pokimon! What I copped in Africa was an occupational hazard, the rest is related to it, I'm so !@#^ bored though.

40 Million coverage is to ensure that when I'm working in the US I don't end up with insufficient coverage against the litigation happy types. For example, suppose someone tripped over my tripod leg and then fell head long under a Semi-Trailer which while braking (after sqishing said pedestrian to jam) then hit another truck or a car load of innocents sending them to their maker. I'm liable for the whole shooting match/

In Australia, Public Liability insurance is really essential for running your own business. I think the minimum you need to buy will be 10 millions. That's is the amount I was insured for when I was running the business.

In Singapore, on the other hand, the PL is not so much an issue as compared to Australia, so generally not required but good to have.

Back to the point above, generally, best to make sure that the photographer don't take too much risk in terms of getting work done and make sure you save your back when you are doing your things.

If you are late for appointment, don't speed as you will be late anyway... there are a lot of preventive measure one can do to make sure that he/she can still click that shutter.

Of course, Ian's case is of course lots of bad luck which might not be able to avoid... of course, insurance is good to have.

Mine was indeed bad luck, being in the wrong place at the wrong time and then having the treatment for the spider bite masking the pneumonia for 7 months. Still as the great philosopher Eh $hitappens once said, life ain't meant to be easy, but does it have to be this effing hard.

Sadly all it takes is a couple of lawsuit happy lawyers and a suitably aggrieved "victim" to push the payouts through the roof. You're dead right though, 10 mill is the minimum down here and most companies are now carrying 20+ mill if your doing anything that's hazardous to a clients welfare (bungee jumping, para-sailing, absailing etc).

New Member

Why do you think a photographer who can't click his shutter can be a P.A.????!!!!!!!!!!

A P.A. has more work to do physically than a photographer per se.

Many years ago I ever assisted a word top photographer whom can't focus due to his old age.
I was his eye, his donkey, his lighting man but I can never replace him as a top photographer in the eye of his client.

Senior Member

Firstly, I'm in that situation for the next two years due to a spider bite on the leg in Botswana that filled one leg up with Golden Staph and also due to a major illness last year (pneumonia + H1N1 which lead to respiritory and cardiac failures) which I can tell you is NOT a bundle of fun.

I did have (and still have) income loss insurance that covers me not only for temporary disability but also permanent disability as well as disability overheads (keeping my PA/AP employed, paying general bills for the business etc). It's the best insurance I ever paid out for and all of the years of paying for it each month have really paid themselves back in the past 20 months.

Though I can't wield a camera at present my main international clients and local clients are a very understanding bunch and for the local clients at least my PAAP (what else can I call her) has been doing the work under strict guidance. So far she's done very well too.

In the meantime I'm taking what could best be called "long service leave" haha. Should be back fully at work in 2012 at the latest according to the doctors.

If you're working professionally (self employed) then you should consider such insurnace as well as public liability insurance which is an other MUST have insurance. I currently carry PLI to the value of $40 million USD.

Senior Member

Most general business insurers have it or talk to a broker. Mine is part of a fairly hefty package that I have that covers my gear, public liability, income (disability) insurance and various other indemnities etc.

It's not cheap, but it's not expensive either, in Australia it's about a 4% to 10% premium depending on your occupation and the actuaries assessment of the chances of incapacitation or injury.

Mine will more than pay for itself in this illness alone as the total time out may well be 4 years.

Deregistered

"What will happen to a full-time photographer if he was unable to click the shutter anymore due to some accidents he just had?"
just borrow another hand. the artistic talent will always be his and his only.
the foresight for colors, composition, etc etc is all through experience. like how beethoven can compose music while being deaf. its deep in that person. nothing can remove it.

New Member

Firstly, I'm in that situation for the next two years due to a spider bite on the leg in Botswana that filled one leg up with Golden Staph and also due to a major illness last year (pneumonia + H1N1 which lead to respiritory and cardiac failures) which I can tell you is NOT a bundle of fun.

I did have (and still have) income loss insurance that covers me not only for temporary disability but also permanent disability as well as disability overheads (keeping my PA/AP employed, paying general bills for the business etc). It's the best insurance I ever paid out for and all of the years of paying for it each month have really paid themselves back in the past 20 months.

Though I can't wield a camera at present my main international clients and local clients are a very understanding bunch and for the local clients at least my PAAP (what else can I call her) has been doing the work under strict guidance. So far she's done very well too.

In the meantime I'm taking what could best be called "long service leave" haha. Should be back fully at work in 2012 at the latest according to the doctors.

If you're working professionally (self employed) then you should consider such insurnace as well as public liability insurance which is an other MUST have insurance. I currently carry PLI to the value of $40 million USD.

Deregistered

Though I can't wield a camera at present my main international clients and local clients are a very understanding bunch and for the local clients at least my PAAP (what else can I call her) has been doing the work under strict guidance. So far she's done very well too.